CARLSBAD – The Carlsbad volleyball team will push the offensive pace more in 2016.

The Cavegirls seek faster passing as well as better-timed hits at the net. Coach Bobby Bates said that’ll be particularly important facing new district foes in the Las Cruces area who run faster offenses than teams like Hobbs.

Playing at a quicker tempo was rather problematic for Carlsbad’s offense in 2015.

Players up front weren’t always on the same page; passes were off or late, or kill attempts were ill-timed.

“We were out-of-system a lot. The pass was over here, and so I was having to just go outside the whole time. That was my only choice,” junior setter Lindsey Day said. “If the pass is on the net and I’m standing right there, then we can run everything on the net.”

Playing faster, the goal is to attack with more control at the net. Bates said a quicker attack will give opposing teams less time to adjust on defense.

“I’m hoping we can go ahead and get that quicker offense going. We’ll be more effective,” Bates said.

Day added, “When the game’s faster, we just tend to play a lot better. I’m excited for that.”

Senior outside hitter Carly Kantrowitz will not return. She intends to focus on developing her track and field career in order to compete at the collegiate level.

Junior outside hitter TaBor Holcomb will miss the 2016 season after tearing both the ACL and meniscus in her right knee throwing in the javelin toward the end of track and field season this past spring.

Carlsbad spent last year pursuing the ball faster on defense, getting to their spots sooner and keeping balls alive.

Now that they've check marked a quicker defense off their to-do list, the Cavegirls want to replicate that effort on the hitting end this year.

“Now that our defense is up to par, the setters are there. We can run plays the whole time. You can move around the block so we’re not just setting high-outside (plays) all the time. We’re moving (the ball) around and having a quicker offense,” Day said. “We’re trying to bring down the sets and have the girls coming in faster.”

Carlsbad (5-17 last year) opens the 2016 season at 7 p.m. tonight at Artesia.

2016 Carlsbad volleyball schedule

Aug. 30: at Artesia, 7 p.m.

Sept. 2-4: at Moriarty tournament, TBA

Sept. 6: at Lovington, 6 p.m.

Sept. 9-10: at Roswell Zia Tournament, TBA

Sept. 13: at Mayfield, 6 p.m. *

Sept. 17: Centennial, 2 p.m. *

Sept. 20: Onate, 6 p.m. *

Sept. 24: at Las Cruces, 2 p.m. *

Sept. 27: Artesia, 7 p.m.

Oct. 1: Gadsden, 2 p.m. *

Oct. 4: at Hobbs, 6 p.m. *

Oct. 8: Mayfield, 2 p.m. *

Oct. 11: at Centennial, 6 p.m. *

Oct. 15: at Onate, 2 p.m. *

Oct. 18: Las Cruces, 6 p.m. *

Oct. 25: at Gadsden, 6 p.m. *

Oct. 29: Hobbs, 2 p.m. *

Nov. 1, 3 and 5: District 3-6A tournament

* = District match

2016 Cavegirls volleyball roster

No. 2 Carrie Lynn, sophomore outside hitter

No. 3 Marissa Reyes, sophomore libero

No. 4 Baylee Lynn, junior middle blocker

No. 5 Alexa Sowers, freshman outside hitter

No. 6 Jayda Rodriguez, junior middle blocker

No. 7 Destiny Young, sophomore outside hitter

No. 9 Lindsey Day, junior setter

No. 11 August Tiller, junior outside hitter

No. 12 Brooklyn Becker, junior defensive specialist

No. 16 Kaylie Hewitt, sophomore middle blocker

No. 17 Nohely Fierro, junior setter/defensive specialist

Current-Argus Sports Editor Matt Hollinshead may be reached at 575-628-5518.